Apparatus for treating human bodies with electrons



- Oc t.22,1935. A RA H 2,018,599

. P! APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN BODIES WITH ELECTRONS Filed April 25,1933 IN V EN TOR.

Arno Brasch- A TTORN E YS.

Patented Oct. 22, .1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.01am f APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN BODIESWITH ELEOTRONS BerIIn-Obaflottenburg, Germany, one-half to Fritz Lange,

Berlin,

1933, w No. 001,911

April 17, 1932 3 clalml. (Cl- 174-477) The invention relates to anapparatus, which enablesinternalpartsofthebodytobesubiected to theaction of rapid, artificially produced cathode rays, 1. e., very rapidelectrons, permit- 6 ting either of the suppression of growths,particularly those of a malignant kind, or also of the extermination ofbacteria or germs. Heretofore there have been employed for this purposeprimarily x-rays or the gamma rays of radium. In this connection, 1. e.,by the roundabout way cathode rays-X-rays-secondary electrons. merelyquite a small proportion of the cathode rays amounting to between 0.1and 0.001

per thousand become effective. Practical therapeutical effects withelectrons have not been attempted up to now, because their range, bothas regards radiation by radium as well as in the case of the browngenerators for artificial electrons, has been too small. Quite recentlyit'has been possible by the use of a condenser impulse charge andcorresponding vacuum tube construction to make use of potentials of adesired amount, so that wide electron ranges may be obtained, and accessaccomplished with rapid electrom! to each part of the body per se. Forthis purpose, however, plants are required with a potential ofapproximately 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 volts. The manufacture of thesehighcated and also expensive.

Now it is possible by reason of the invention to make use of relativelylow potentials by approaching the electrons, which are produced in theknown manner by a cathode ray tube, in immediate proximity to the partunder treatment by means of a narrow passage. It is then sufficient toemploy potentials only of such amount that the surface to be subjectedto the treatment is fully reached by the rays. Owing to the fact thatthe exit point for the electrons is advanced wholly or partially up tothe surface to be treated, the rapid electrons are unable to developtheir activity before reaching this surface, and do not require to passthrough.

healthy tissues, which would necessitate a much higher generatingpotential, and under certain circumstances might also act detrimentallyon these tissues. Beyond this, the rays are greatly retarded in thetissues, so that their effect is im- The passage furnished in accordancewith the invention is preferably constructed in the form of an extensionto the discharge space of the cathode ray tube. If desired, the same maybe removed and replaced by another fitting of difpotential apparatus isnaturally very compliferent diameter and length. The wall of the passagepreferably consists of a highly atomic material, for example a metallicpipe. The passage may be constructed on the lines of the known probinginstruments for introduction into i cavities in the body. Under certaincircumstances the passage may be constructed in the form of an injectiondevice, such as used in the medical andsurgical art for injection intothe body. The passage is movable in relation to the 10 discharge tube,and if desired may also be bent in form. This is accomplished byproviding between the passage and the discharge tube a movable metaltubing, for example a tombac tube. The tombac tube is then connectedwith the disll charge tube and the passage, for example by soldering. Inthis manner'the extension member is provided with the movabilitynecessary for medicinal purposes.

Upon the treatment of a patient, the proce- 10 dure, for example, willbe such that at first a canula or a probe of the requisite dimensions isintroduced into the cavity or the interior of the body, and it is onlyafter this has been done that the projecting end is connected with thedis- 28 charge tube through the medium of a movable intermediate member.The treatment may then commence.

In the space of the passage there may be generated longitudinal ortransverse magnetic l0 fields, for example by the winding of a solenoidspiral, which fields ensure a guiding of the electrons as far aspossible in the axis of the passage, even upon movement and bending ofthe passage. The magnetic field does naturally not require to fill outthe passage over its entire length, and it is sufiicient if the magneticfields are present at the points of the bends. Preferably, at the pointwhere the electrons enter the passage or leave the discharge tube therewill be provided a magnetic field, which preliminarily concentrates thestream of electrons, in order that maximum surface intensities may beobtained. The passage also requires to be insulated against thedischarge tube by means of one or more insulating tubes.

Whereas generally speaking the passage tube itself may be so constructedthat no electrons are able to emerge at its jacket surface, the end ofthe passage is sealed by a window allowing the passage of electrons andcomposed for example of beryllium or other inorganic or organic materialof light atomic weight. The passage window, particularly when employingcanula: or probes, is preferably constructed in pointed form, or aspartofapoinhifattheenditisdesiredtc obtain notanexit'oftheelectronsonallsides, but a directed emission of the electron The practical use ofthis apparatus is facilig tated by providing in addition to the passagewindow'a special window for the discharge tube.

The passage tube maythen be removed without diinculty from the dischargetube, 1. e., without affecting the discharge tube. Preferably thepassage will then also be sealed in itself, so that under certaincircumstances the same may also be evacuated, or filled with a gas ofdesired nature.

' To enable the electrons to move as far as possible in a straight lineupto the tip or point, it

will befound of advantage to maintain a certain degree of vacuum in thetube e. Upon the treatment the tip or point will be advanced, for

example, up to the vicinity of the aifected tissue,

as in an injection. If now the potential is apzo plied to the dischargetube briefly or continuously,

the electrons produced in the tube pass throughthe'tip of the canulainto the part under treatment. In the apparatus according to theinvention the useful effect of the electronic radiation is a veryconsiderable one. In the case of impulse operation, particularly withcondenser impulses, considerable energy may be passed through thepassage, and the time of radiation may be very short (fractions of a.second). This is a great ad- 30. vantage if it is considered that theintroduction of the probe or canula into the human body is accompaniedby a great deal of unpleasantness and pain, which in accordance with theinvention is reduced to a minimum.

Since for example in the case of intermittent impulse operation smalldiiferences in potential are able to occur, even at the earthed points,it will be found of advantage to insulate the point of introduction,which according to the invenao 'tion may be accomplished by simpleinsulation i lofthe passage against the discharge tube. The'longitudinal or transverse magnetic field ensures guiding of theelectrons and the passage thereof as far as possible without loss up tothe 4s point of treatment, even withthe necessary deformation of thecanula.

I with the assistance of this arrangement it will be possible in theordinary way to obtain access to desired partsof the body and toeffectively I treat malignant growths, despite the fact that the rangeof the electrons in the tissues of the body under certain circumstancesonly requires to amount. to 4 to 6 cm. at the most.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

- Fig. 1 shows an apparatus constructed on the linesoianiniectioncanula.listhe tube, which operates for example with condenser impulseexcitation, and the wall of which is constructedonthelinesofalaminatedcondenser' body. atubeotthiskindpermitsoftheuseof5 relatively high potentials (without the high vacuum usuallynecessary). The electrons generatedinthedischargetubepassthroughthe'Lenardwindowiintothecamilal. 'Thecanulal is firmly or detachablyconnected with' the dis- 1o chargetubebymeansoftheinsulatingmemberl. Iis a flexible tombac tube, which enables the canula to bebent.Thecanulaistaperedor pointed at its free end, and is closed by aberyllium plate 6. In the canula there is, for exis ample,avacuum.-Aboutthetombactubelthere maybewoundundercertaincasolenoid spiral 1,which ensures an axial guiding of the stream of electrons when bendingthe.

Fig. 2 shows a probe 8 capable of introduction 20 into cavities in thebody and having the conical window 8, out-of which'the electrons areable to passinalldirections. Thewindowmay also be constructed in suchfashion that the beryllium constitutes merely a narrow, welded-in 2sstrip, whilst the remaining parts consist of a highly atomic material,so that the electrons are abletopass outofthetiponlyinacertaindirection.

I claim: 80

1. An apparatus for treating the human or animal body by means of rapidelectrons, comprising an electric discharge vessel, a canula, suitableconnection between the canulaandsaidvessebsaid canula having a narrowpassage and means as adapted to transfer electrons from said ,vesseldirectly through said passage to the part of the body to be treated,said canula being of the known injection type made of metallic tubehaving high atomic weight and terminating in a point adapted so to beintroduced into a cavity of said body.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means consists ofa flexible tube and a current traversed coil thereon producing amagnetic field, ensuring the guidance of the u electrons substantiallyin the axial direction of the canula.

3.In an apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means consists of aflexible tube and a current traversed coil thereon producing a magneticfield, summing the guidance of the electrons substantially in the axialdirection of the canula, a window made of a low atomic material, such asberyllium being provided at the point of said canula. l6

ARNO BRABCH.

